Stiff Competition at the All Ireland Coastal Rowing Championships

The Coastal Rowing Clubs of Kerry played host to this year’s All Ireland Coastal Rowing Championships which took place on Lough Currane, Waterville, at the weekend from Friday, 15th to Sunday 17th August 2014. More than 2,700 rowers competed, 530 crews raced for medals and trophies in the most coveted of Rowing Championships. Crews from Donegal, Antrim, Belfast, Dublin, Wicklow, Wexford, Cork, and Kerry competed at the weekend. The type of boat used in the Coastal Rowing Championships is called a ‘One Design’ - fibre glass boat, fixed seat, a crew of four and cox.

Though the sun was shining, the breezes were stiff, just like the competition. The course was flawless, designed by Nick Norris, Schull, Co Cork, a great friend of Waterville Rowing Club. Overseeing all the course was Kerry Coastal Chairman, Pat Cuffe and volunteer Andrew Wharton, who were seen, cutting branches, fixing engines, making tea and even cleaning up the rubbish! Waterville Rowing Club’s Noel Clifford and team were on hand for every element of the rowing weekend.

Speaking after the event, PRO Mary B Teahan, commented “What we witnessed in Waterville was a wonderful weekend of rowing, the atmosphere was amazing, the fun and comradarie incredible. Medals were hard to come by, every crew gave it their all. We’ve been working on the event for a year, and all the hard work definitely paid off. Waterville was the perfect location, every community in South and Mid Kerry were completely behind the event. The Organisation was enormous, and thankfully it ran very smoothly”

Taking the honours for the Senior Men’s Race was Killorglin Rowing Club, the crew took an early lead and just couldn’t be taken, Cork Rivals Courtmacsherry and Kilmacsimon RC finishing 2nd and 3rd in what is always the biggest race of the day.

Not to be outdone the Senior Ladies was won by Killorglin Rowing Club, 2nd another great Kerry Club, Sneem RC and in 3rd place was Arklow RC.